Visit ancient castles and abbeys, wineries for wine tasting and fine restaurants, and savor wonderful views of Italian countryside through hidden and ancient trails by bicycle. This programme offers you bicycles, helmets and maps plus a guide who is familiar with the area so as to spend a few hours pedalling along some of the most beautiful roads in Tuscany. The service includes departure right from your home or choice of location. Here are three examples of a day trip, the first starting from Barberino Val d’Elsa, the second from Borgo San Lorenzo and the third from Rufina, but the routes can be modified to depart from your chosen location.

Day Trips and Activities Detail
Information

SAN GIMIGNANO - 50 km. (of which 10 km along unmade road) - After visiting the medieval hamlet of Barberino Val D’Elsa, the point of departure and arrival of this itinerary, we’ll be pedaling through the beautiful hills of the Val d’Elsa with a fleeting stop at the ancient church of Sant’Appiano and abandoned medieval hamlet of Linari before reaching the “city of towers”, San Gimignano, set on the top of a panoramic hill, which has remained miraculously intact to the present day. If you wish, it’s possible to stop at a farm along the way for a tour of the wine-cellars and a guided wine-tasting. PS: This itinerary, which begins with 10km, mostly downhill, can be reduced by the last 10km uphill from Poggibonsi to Barberino if you opt for a lift in the van.

THE CASTLES OF MUGELLO - 50 km. (of which 8km along unmade road) – During this easy mountain bike excursion we’ll be pedaling through the green countryside of Mugello, looking out for some of the most picturesque castles in the region. Then we’ll visit the town of SCARPERIA, built in 1306 by the Florentine republic so as defend its lands from attacks by peoples of the north. There’ll be a guided tour inside Palazzo dei Vicari and its Museum of Knives, the industry which has made this town famous throughout the world. Five kilometres further on we’ll be visiting the Museum of Cottage Crafts and Life, with moving figures, in Sant'Agata. Another few kilometers and we’ll reach the Castello di Cafaggiolo, where you’ll be given a guided tour of the inside. Just a little way further on is the Castello del Trebbio. The Medici family used this building as a residence when hunting. We will then make our way back to Borgo San Lorenzo pedaling along the banks of the Lago di Bilancino.

THE CASTLES OF DEL TREBBIO - 50 km. (all on tarred roads) – This itinerary passes almost entirely within the Protected Area of Poggio Ripaghera and Santa Brigida. In the first part of the itinerary we’ll be cycling mainly uphill as far as the Sanctuary of the Madonna del Sasso, built in 1490 on the site where an apparition of the Madonna occurred. After visiting the inside we’ll be getting back onto the saddle and riding mainly downhill to the ancient Castello del Trebbio, a picturesque medieval manor-house built in 1184 by the Pazzi family. Guided tour of the wine cellars with tasting of the wines produced, tastes of Tuscan hors d’oeuvres and extra virgin olive oil.

Notes for price Information

The price is inclusive of: bike tour in English, an expert guide, bicycles, helmets and maps, visits to museums and tasting on the farms.